A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1653-1688
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Overly, -lye, a. [e.m.E. and ME. ouerly (c 1425) slight, cursory, ME. ouerliche (1340) supreme; cf. -Like E and ON. ofrligr excessive.] Superficial.a. Cursory. b. Slight, casual, careless.a. 1669 Jus Populi 426/7.
He calleth his work a survey! or rather a superficial view: for no man … took such an overly look of the books which he pretended to answere 1669 Ib. 1.
Overlye 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 376.
By their overly seeking … they satisfy themselves very easilyb. 1653 Binning Wks. 544.
It is a light and overly knowledge of it, a small smattering of the doctrine of it a1658 Durham Commandments 91.
In your overly, rash, and slight way of using obtestations … as when ye say, for God's sake … only as a customary by-word 1678 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 229.
The defender answered, that … he was not in mora until interpellation; which overly words cannot infer, but must be solemn by instrument
